2012: A year on the runways

Ed note: In recent days the media has been filled with images of terror, grief and destruction. As a fashion-focused publication, it often feels difficult to find our place, and to find appropriate words in the face of so much chaos. And so we want to simply offer our condolences to all of those around the world who have been affected by violence in 2012, and to offer a moment of reprieve from the media storm to all our readers via a few beautiful images. 

2012 was definitely a year of fashion changes. Between big shake ups at some of the world's biggest brands, to the new names that made a huge splash at fashion weeks around the globe ( and some fashion weeks themselves became big news) there were countless moments that will be emblazoned into our memories forever.  Here are just as few of our favorites.

image:S.Whittle for Style WyldePep talk: moments before the media and audience is ushered into the Chris Benz Spring 2012 presentation, a model gives the designer a few calming words of encouragement.  The collection would go on to be one of the most buzzed about of the season reconfirming Benz as one of New York's brightest fashion stars.

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

Political statement: weeks before Occupy took over Wall Street, designer Johnson Hartig of Libertine said his peace with Tees and skirts emblazed with the phrase "Tax the Rich More" woven through his Spring 2012 collection.

image: S.Whittle for Style Wylde

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

Motorcycle mama: Biker-chic was never more blinged out than when The Blonds took all things two wheels as inspiration for their Fall 2012 show. Opulent corsets encrusted with crystals paired with tons of tough leather details? What's not to love!

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

Fond farewell: For her final show in Tokyo ( before decamping her brand to Paris)  designer Sara Arai, of the label ARAISARA offered up a breathtakingly beautiful Fall 2012 collection tinged with melancholy that felt like a bittersweet love letter to the city that put her work on the fashion map, and that left many members of the audience in tears.

image:C.Hope for Style Wylde

image:C.Hope for Style Wylde 

New kids on the block: Just one year after debuting at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tokyo, designers Steven Hall and Yurika OHara of In-Process by Hall Ohara presented the highly conceptual Urban Nomadic collection for the Fall 2012 season. The collection, filled with enormously voluminous coats, steampunk reminiscent prints and repurposed parachute silks was one of the most inventive of the season, and made many international style writers stand up and take notice of the growing Tokyo fashion scene.

image:C.Hope for Style Wylde

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

She put a bird on it: Hipster owls and animal hats brought a fun, free spirited and more than a little tongue in cheek element to Anna Sui's Fall 2012 Runway show, reminding us that even the bold face names can have a sense of humor. 

image:C.Hope for Style Wylde

image:S.Whittle for Style WyldeGlamourama: In his first ever full runway show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York, designer Bibhu Mohapatra unveils a Fall 2012 collection that explodes with old Hollywood glamour, and seals his legacy as one of the all time  great American gown designers.

image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

What were your favorite fashion moments of 2012? Let us know in the comments!